Live Commentary

92mins

The scoreline ended up being a lot closer than the balance of play, but Germany are nevertheless deservedly through to the semi-finals and once again looked a very good side, albeit against highly conservative and inferior opponents. They created dozens of chances and scored some excellent goals - and no team in the tournament will fancy facing them on that form. Greece, meanwhile, are on their way home.

92mins

Full-time: Germany 4-2 Greece

89mins

And Salpingidis duly converts with a fine penalty into the bottom corner. It's little more than a consolation, though.

89mins

Goal! Germany 4-2 Greece (Dimitris Salpingidis)

88mins

Torosidis' cross connects with Boateng's arm and a spot-kick is given.

87mins

Penalty to Greece!

85mins

Another chance for Ozil, who plays a one-two with Gomez on the edge of the box before firing in a left-footed shot which Sifakis grasps at the second attempt.

82mins

Another speculative chance for Greece as Fotakis tries his luck from distance, but Schweinsteiger's slight deflection took the sting out of the shot and made it an easy save for Neuer.

80mins

Great chance for Germany as Ozil slaloms his way though virtually the entire Greek defence and unleashes a shot which Sifakis can only parry into the path of Gomez, but the Bayern Munich striker was ruled offside.

79mins

Double substitution for Germany, who replaces Klose with Mario Gomez and Reus with Mario Gotze.

75mins

Papastathopoulos picks up a yellow card for a foul that had frustration written all over it. It's been a difficult night for the Greeks to say the least.

74mins

Another brilliant strike. Klose's shot from the edge of the six-yard box on the left ricocheted up into the air and into the path of Reus, who volleyed it in off the crossbar with a venomous shot from 15 yards.

74mins

Goal! Germany 4-1 Greece (Marco Reus)

73mins

Desperation is setting in for Greece as Liberopoulos shoots from all of 40 yards, but not surprisingly it flies over.

72mins

Change for Greece, as Nikos Liberopoulos replaces Makos.

71mins

Germany are rampant again now and Muller has just had a shot from the right channel tipped around the post.

68mins

That should be that now. A free-kick from close to the corner flag on the right is nodded in by veteran striker Klose, who had risen above Papadopoulos. Straight from the restart, Klose had the chance to score again but his low, right-footed shot was saved by the legs of Sifakis.

68mins

Goal! Germany 3-1 Greece (Miroslav Klose)

67mins

Substitution for Germany, who send on Muller for Schurrle.

65mins

Greece look like they have finally got a taste for attacking because, for the first time in the game, they have pushed five or six men into the German half and won a corner, only for Kyriakos Papadopoulos to head wide.

62mins

But a chance for Greece at the other end now as Gekas collects the ball on the edge of the box and fires a right-footed shot over.

61mins

Brilliant goal from the Real Madrid man. Ozil fed Jerome Boateng on the right and he crossed for Khedira to smash a volley into the roof of the net from the penalty spot.

61mins

Goal! Germany 2-1 Greece (Sami Khedira)

59mins

Germany look undeterred by that goal, though, and are still dominating possession and attacking almost continually.

57mins

Gekas has actually made a big impact for Greece. They hardly touched the ball for the first five minutes of the second half but the veteran striker has since brought energy and invention to Greece as an attacking side. That said, they definitely don't deserve to be level.

55mins

Absolutely incredible. Gekas releases Dimitris Salpingidis down the right, who crosses for Samaras to tap in via a deflection off Neuer. Germany, of all teams, are stung on the break. Amazing.

55mins

Goal! Germany 1-1 Greece (Georgios Samaras)

53mins

Chance from a corner for Germany as Ozil floats a cross towards Badstuber, but the defender's volley lacked conviction and flew harmlessly high and wide.

52mins

Greece break two-on-two with Gekas and Georgios Samaras, but the duo can't combine and this time it's Germany's turn to clear.

51mins

Greece made two posititve changes at the break but are yet to show any improvement in their attacking threat. It's all Germany again.

49mins

Another chance for Germany as Ozil sweeps in a free-kick from the right deep to the back post for Holger Badstuber to head it down, but there was no one there to convert the opportunity and Greece once again cleared.

48mins

That was one of the most one-sided first halves you could wish to see. Germany have dominated from the first second to the last and created enough chances to win the tournament, let alone the game. The fact they are only 1-0 ahead is a miracle for Greece, who have offered absolutely nothing and won't be mounting a comeback if their woeful, unadventurous first-half showing is anything to go by.

47mins

Half-time: Germany 1-0 Greece

47mins

Now Germany switch attention to the right wing, where Klose beats his man, bursts into the box and crosses, but the danger is cleared.

46mins

We're back under way in the second half, and Germany are straight back on the ball and attacking down the left flank. They win a corner but play it short and resume passing it patiently from one side of the pitch to the other. They've got no need to rush.

46mins

And for a third time Schurrle is allowed to cut in from the left and shoot, and this time his effort hits the near side-netting. Fine effort and unlucky not to score.

44mins

Lahm charges forward again and shapes to shoot from exactly the same spot as his goal, but instead lays it off and the momentum of the move is lost. Germany can be pleased to lead, but equally frustrated not to be completely out of sight.

43mins

Once again Schurrle picks up the ball on the left, cuts in and shoots, but this time his right-footed effort is deflected wide for a corner, which is cleared.

41mins

Greece have no choice but to come out of their shell now. Unless they attack, they're out, but that could just as easily open the floodgates for Germany.

39mins

Finally Germany make the breakthrough, and it's full-back Lahm who shows his attacking team-mates how it's done by picking the ball up on the left, cutting inside and sweeping an outswinging strike from the edge of the box into the far corner. Fine goal.

39mins

Goal! Germany 1-0 Greece (Philipp Lahm)

35mins

Chance for Germany as Ozil sets up Khedira to drive a low, right-footed shot towards the bottom corner, but Sifakis gets his body in the way and the rebound is cleared. Another major let-off for Greece.

32mins

But Germany resume normal service through Schurrle on the left wing, who beats Greece right-back Torosidis, cuts inside and sends a right-footed shot whistling across goal and wide.

31mins

Chance for Greece, though, as Ninis draws a sprawling save from Neuer with a left-footed shot from the edge of the box, but there were no Greek players following in to hammer home the rebound.

29mins

And now Germany slow it down again, knocking the ball around and using the full width of the pitch. Changes in tempo are definitely a feature of their game tonight.

26mins

That was an incredible passage of play, with Germany creating four clear-cut chances within 90 seconds. How they aren't ahead by now is quite amazing.

24mins

And another great chance for Germany as the ball is played out to Reus with a clear view of goal in the right channel, but he slices his right-footed shot wide. Greece can't hang on like this for long.

23mins

Another great chance for Germany as Reus steers a low ball towards Klose at the back post, but the veteran striker can't quite get a touch three yards out with the goal gaping.

22mins

Great chance for Germany as Klose and Reus combine to set up Ozil to shoot at goal, but his point-blank effort is straight at Sifakis. He should have scored. Meanwhile, Reus has just had a shot from an angle turned around the post.

22mins

Virtually every Greek player is in their own half now as Germany patiently probe for an opening.

18mins

On the rare occasions Greece do get the ball, they're struggling to string two passes together. The lone striker is too isolated because the midfielders are too preoccupied with defending to help out going forward.

16mins

Germany have dropped it down a gear after their flying start. They're now building play up a lot more patiently and looking to draw the Greek defence out and then exploit gaps.

14mins

Georgios Samaras is booked for Greece for a late challenge on Bastian Schweinsteiger.

10mins

Fine chance for Germany after a brilliant flowing moved involving Khedira, Klose and Ozil split the Greek defence and played Reus through on goal, but he was off balance as he struck the ball and his left-footed shot sailed wide.

9mins

Greece are finally starting to put pressure on Germany in possession and make some challenges, but they still look completely outclassed.

7mins

Greece venture up the pitch for the first time and Makos shoots for goal from 25 yards out, but his left-footed effort lacked conviction and was easily saved by Manuel Neuer.

6mins

Another chance for Germany as Khedira fires over from distance. This is looking very ominous for Greece, who are already being completely overrun.

3mins

Goal for Germany, but it's disallowed. Sami Khedira fires in a shot that Greek goalkeeper Michalis Sifakis spills to the feet of Ozil, who taps in, but is then ruled offside.

2mins

Germany launch another attack down the right as Reus sweeps a low ball into the box, but Klose in the centre slipped, allowing a flustered Greek defence to clear.

1mins

Germany go straight on the attack, with Mesut Ozil playing in Klose, but the Lazio striker was ruled offside. A warning to Greece nonetheless.

1mins

Greece, in all blue, get the game under way, with the Germans in their traditional white.

The national anthems have been sung so we're ready for kick-off. Surely the Greeks can't spring a surprise.

The teams are in the tunnel, with the Germans being led out by Philipp Lahm and Greece by Kostas Katsouranis.

Holger Badstuber is the only German player going into the game on a yellow card, while for Greece, Kyriakos Papadopoulos, Dimitris Salpingidis and Vasilis Torosidis are all a booking away from a one-match ban.

The winner of tonight's match will go on to face either England or Italy on Thursday.

This is only the second time Greece have reached the quarter-finals of a major tournament. The last time was at Euro 2004, when they went on to lift the trophy.

Germany not only go into the game with a better squad on paper, but they also have history on their side. They are unbeaten in their previous eight games against Greece, winning five of those. They have also won their last 14 competitive matches, including all of their Euro 2012 qualifiers and group games.

Germany are overwhelming favourites to reach the semi-finals tonight and have duly rested their first-choice front three. Mario Gomez, Thomas Mueller and Lukas Podolski all drop out and are replaced by Miroslav Klose, Andre Schurrle and Marco Reus. In defence, Jerome Boateng returns from suspension in place of Lars Bender. Greece, meanwhile, are without suspended captain Giorgos Karagounis and also drop Fanis Gekas, replacing the duo with Sotiris Ninis and Grigoris Makos.

Welcome along to our coverage of tonight's quarter-final between Germany and Greece in Gdansk. Germany qualified after dominating Group B, winning all three of their games, while Greece stunned Russia with a 1-0 win to progress from Group A as runners-up.

Greece have made a second change, sending on Georgios Fotakis for Georgios Tzavelas.

The teams are on their way back out, and Greece are making a change, with Fanis Gekas replacing Ninis.

**Provisional teams until kick-off

Germany

Joachim Loew Coach

Manuel Neuer Goal

Jerome Boateng Defender

Mats Hummels Defender

Holger Badstuber Defender

Philipp Lahm Defender

Marco Reuss Midfielder

Sami Khedira Midfielder

Mesut Ozil Midfielder

Bastian Schweinsteiger Midfielder

Andre Schuerrle Midfielder

Miroslav Klose Forward

Tim Wiese Substitute

Ron-Robert Zieler Substitute

Marcel Schmelzer Substitute

Benedikt Howedes Substitute

Per Mertesacker Substitute

Ilkay Gundogan Substitute

Lars Bender Substitute

Toni Kroos Substitute

Lukas Podolski Substitute

Thomas Mueller

Mario Gomez

Mario Goetze

Greece

Fernando Santos Coach

Michalis Sifakis Goal

Vassilis Torosidis Defender

Kyriakos Papadopoulos Defender

Sokratis Papastathopoulos Defender

Giorgos Tzavelas Defender

Sotiris Ninis Midfielder

Grigoris Makos Midfielder

Konstantinos Katsouranis Midfielder

Giannis Maniatis Midfielder

Giorgios Samaras Midfielder

Dimitrios Salpingidis Forward

Kostas Chalkias Substitute

Alexandros Tzorvas Substitute

Stelios Malezas Substitute

Kostas Fortounis Substitute

Giannis Fetfatzidis Substitute

Kostas Mitroglou Substitute

Giorgos Fotakis Substitute who played

Fanis Gekas Substitute who played

Nikos Liberopoulos Substitute who played

Match Report

Four-star Germans blast Greeks to reach Euro semisGermany booked their place in the last four of Euro 2012 as Joachim Loew's side hammered Greece 4-2 on Friday after dominating their quarter-final.Germany ran riot as captain Philipp Lahm, Sami Khedira, veteran striker Miroslav Klose and Marco Reus all got on the score-sheet to cancel out Giorgos Samaras' and Dimitris Salpingidis' second-half strikes for the Greeks.Germany will now play England or Italy, who meet in Sunday's Kiev quarter-final, in the semi-final at Warsaw's National Stadium on Thursday as they inflicted Greece's heaviest defeat at a European championships.It eclipsed the Greeks' 3-1 defeat at the hands of Czechoslovakia in 1980.The Germans dominated at Arena Gdansk with 700 first-half passes completed compared to the Greeks 70 and the Germans' ball possession never dropped below 60 percent.Greece coach Fernando Santos brought in Grigoris Makos for suspended captain Giorgos Karagounis, who scored the winning goal against Russia which put the Euro 2004 winners in the last eight, with midfielder Kostas Katsouranis named as skipper.Loew pulled off a pre-match triple surprise by leaving out striker Mario Gomez, plus forwards Lukas Podolski and Thomas Mueller in a bold move.Klose won his 120th cap to come in for Gomez to claim his 64th international goal leaving him just four short of Gerd Mueller's all-time Germany record.Borussia Dortmund-bound Reus capped his first Euro 2012 appearance with a goal at Mueller's expense to win only his seventh cap while Bayer Leverkusen's Andre Schuerrle took Lukas Podolski's place on the left wing.The Germans had the ball in the net after only four minutes as Khedira's shot was only parried by Greek goalkeeper Michaelis Sifakis, who was soon beaten, but Schuerrle was flagged for offside.Celtic's Samaras earned the first booking when he ran his boot down the back of Germany's Bastian Schweinsteiger's ankle on 14 minutes while Sotiris Ninis forced Germany's Manuel Neuer into a rare save on 31 minutes.With the Germans enjoying 70 percent ball possession, the goal they had been threatening came on 39 minutes when Lahm burst through the left side of the Greek defence and fired home from the edge of the area.It was a carbon copy of the goal Lahm scored against Costa Rica, the first of the 2006 World Cup, and his fifth for his country on his 90th appearance.Greece coach Fernando Santos added an extra forward after the break with Sotiris Ninis making way for Fanis Gekas and midfielder Giorgos Fotakis on for defender Giorgos Tzavellas.The switch paid off when Samaras slipped his marker Jerome Boateng to bundle the ball home from the cross of Salpingidis, who outpaced Lahm on the right flank on 55 minutes.But Germany reclaimed the lead thanks to a volley from Real Madrid's Khedira whose late run connected with Boateng's cross to leave Sifakis with no chance.Klose added to his impressive tally with a header from a Ozil free-kick on 68 minutes, while Reus scored the fourth when Klose latched onto Ozil's pass, forcing Sifakis into a save.But the ball fell to the Dortmund man, who hit the net on 74 minutes.With time almost up Salpingidis scored from the penalty spot after Boateng's foul, but it was too little, too late.ryj/cw